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‘More work is needed’: Texas STAAR test shows reading gains, math below pre-pandemic level

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‘More work is needed’: Texas STAAR test shows reading gains, math below pre-pandemic level


Texas elementary and middle school students made gains in reading this year, prompting education leaders to point the scores as a sign that the state’s focus on literacy is paying off.

The percentage of students hitting grade-level expectations on STAAR reading tests improved in most grades and topped pre-pandemic levels.

However, challenges remain. Just under half of Texas third graders are reading at grade level, according to the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness results.

“These results are encouraging and reflect the impact of the strategic supports we’ve implemented in recent years,” Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said in a statement.

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The news was less optimistic in math, a subject students struggled to grasp during the COVID-19 campus closures.

This year’s STAAR performance varied. Third and eighth graders made gains, while those in fifth and seventh grades saw dips.

Overall, state performance in math still fell below where students were in spring 2019, the last test before the pandemic hit.

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“Clearly more work is needed,” Morath said of the math scores.

For years, Texas has emphasized that students must learn the “science of reading.” Many teachers are required to go through specialized “reading academies” to ensure they understand the specific techniques that must be used to build children’s literacy skills.

The Legislature recently passed a landmark $8.5 billion funding increase for public schools, which includes a mandate to bolster training programs for math teachers.

The funding package – which comes after years of stagnant state support – also includes money to improve educator training along with additional dollars for other programs aimed at improving student achievement.

Public schools across Texas are still struggling with the fallout of the pandemic, more than five years later.

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When Dallas ISD Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde reviewed academic outcomes with trustees last week, she urged them to remember how old today’s students were when the pandemic struck in 2020.

“That’s not an excuse, and we’re going to continue to work on it,” she said. “But I just want everyone to understand that we also can’t ignore some of the factors that actually affected our kids.”

Since 2020, the percentage of uncertified teachers working in Texas public schools has exploded. Chronic student absenteeism rates jumped up, too, troubling educators who stress that children can’t learn if they’re not in the classroom.

Many Texas kids are chronically absent from school. Here’s why

Parents can log into TexasAssessment.gov and find their child’s STAAR results. Scores for high school students were released last week.

Students don’t need to meet grade level to pass the exams. STAAR scores are broken down into four performance categories on how well they compared to grade-level expectations: masters, meets, approaches and did not meet.

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Approaches or higher is considered passing. However, if the student scores only at the approaches level, it means they likely need academic intervention, such as tutoring, in order to succeed in the next grade.

This is a developing story that will be updated throughout the day.

The DMN Education Lab deepens the coverage and conversation about urgent education issues critical to the future of North Texas.

The DMN Education Lab is a community-funded journalism initiative, with support from Bobby and Lottye Lyle, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, Dallas Regional Chamber, Deedie Rose, Garrett and Cecilia Boone, Judy and Jim Gibbs, The Meadows Foundation, The Murrell Foundation, Ron and Phyllis Steinhart, Solutions Journalism Network, Southern Methodist University, Sydney Smith Hicks, and the University of Texas at Dallas. The Dallas Morning News retains full editorial control of the Education Lab’s journalism.



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Texas man arrested after allegedly throwing bucket of possible human remains toward FBI field office

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Texas man arrested after allegedly throwing bucket of possible human remains toward FBI field office


A Texas man has been charged with abuse of a corpse after he threw a bucket containing suspected human remains over a fence at the FBI’s Dallas field office and posted a video of it on YouTube.

Michael Chadwick Fry, 41, was arrested Thursday and charged with two counts of abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence, the Bartonville Police Department said in a news release.

The investigation began on March 16 when a Bartonville police officer responded to a call from Fry’s mother, who said he asked her for money to pay for a U-Haul. When asked why, he said he “had a body that needed to be moved,” the probable cause affidavit said.

Fry then became “irate” and left the home. Shortly afterward, the officer received information from Fry’s sister that he had “filmed himself on YouTube” at the Dallas FBI field office, the affidavit said.

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The video showed Fry throwing a large, closed white bucket over the fence into the secure parking lot of the FBI building, according to the affidavit.

Fry claimed in the video he was trying to compel the FBI to intervene “in what he describes as wrongdoing by Denton County officials from a past arrest,” the affidavit said. It’s not clear what that alleged wrongdoing was.

An FBI special agent said “the bucket contained numerous bones” that appeared to be human, per the affidavit. The bones are awaiting further forensic analysis.

Fry had also posted another video on YouTube that showed what appeared to be a human skull at his Denton County home.

The mother told police that she found in her vehicle’s GPS history three searches for cemeteries — one in Arlington, Texas, and two in Oklahoma City. She also said she found a shovel that was never at the residence before and her son had started to lock the shed in the back of the home, which he didn’t do previously, the affidavit said.

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In the investigation by Bartonville police and FBI agents, Fry was found to have posted videos online showing separate human remains and an urn of ashes.

Investigators later determined that Fry had stolen an urn containing human remains from a cemetery in Oklahoma City — which was the subject of an Oklahoma City Police Department investigation from February, according to Bartonville police.

FBI agents also found evidence at a cemetery in Denton, Texas, “indicating that a coffin containing human remains had been removed from a mausoleum,” Bartonville police said.

Officials did not disclose whom the remains belonged to or why Fry might have targeted them.

The case remains active and next of kin have been notified, police said.

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Fry remained in custody Sunday on a $30,000 surety bond, according to booking records. It’s not immediately clear if he has retained a lawyer.

Fry had made headlines in the past for ramming a truck into a FOX 4 building in downtown Dallas in 2018. In that case, police determined Fry was upset about a 2012 police shooting in Denton County that killed his friend. He apologized to the local news station during a court hearing, FOX 4 reported.



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Where to watch LSU vs. Texas Tech in March Madness Second Round: Time, TV Channel

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Where to watch LSU vs. Texas Tech in March Madness Second Round: Time, TV Channel


March Madness is underway and college basketball’s big dance continues with No. 2 seed LSU taking on No. 7 seed Texas Tech in a Second Round matchup on Sunday, March 22. Here’s everything you need to know to tune in for the clash between the Lady Raiders and Lady Tigers.

USA TODAY Sports has a team of journalists covering women’s March Madness to keep you up to date with every point scored, rebound grabbed and game won in the 68-team tournament.

USA TODAY Studio IX: Check out our women’s sports hub for in-depth analysis, commentary and more

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What time is Texas Tech vs LSU Second Round game?

No. 2 LSU vs No. 7 Texas Tech tips off at 3:00 PM (ET) on Sunday, March 22 from Pete Maravich Assembly Center (Baton Rouge, Louisiana).

What channel is Texas Tech vs LSU Second Round game?

No. 2 LSU vs No. 7 Texas Tech is airing live on ABC.

How to stream Texas Tech vs LSU Second Round game

No. 2 LSU vs No. 7 Texas Tech is available to stream on Fubo.

Watch the NCAA Tournament all March long with Fubo

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Women’s March Madness schedule today

See the schedule, live scores and results for all of Sunday’s NCAA Tournament action here.

2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament full schedule

  • March 18-19: First Four
  • March 20-21: First Round
  • March 22-23: Second Round
  • March 27-28: Sweet 16
  • March 29-30: Elite 8
  • April 3: Final Four
  • April 5: National Championship

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Kahil Fennell of Texas-Rio Grande Valley takes over struggling Western Michigan program

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Kahil Fennell of Texas-Rio Grande Valley takes over struggling Western Michigan program


KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) — Western Michigan has hired Kahil Fennell away from Texas-Rio Grande Valley to take over its struggling men’s basketball program, athletic director Dan Bartholomae announced Saturday.

Fennell was 35-29 in two seasons with the Vaqueros and will take over a WMU team coming off its eighth straight losing season and fourth under Dwayne Stephens, who was fired two weeks ago. The Broncos were 10-21 this season and tied for last in the Mid-American Conference.

“As we set out to find our next head coach, we sought a leader who not only had experience working with some of basketball’s finest programs and coaches, but one who had also led his own program to new heights at the Division I level,” Bartholomae said.

“We also sought someone who would be a great community partner as we prepare for the most transformative event in the history of our athletics program,” he added. “There is no question that Western Michigan University and the entire Southwest Michigan community has found that leader in Kahil. His track record of recruiting, developing and connecting with student-athletes stood out, and his vision and leadership acumen was unmatched.”

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Fennell was an assistant at Louisville and BYU before he was hired to lead a UTRGV program that had won six games in 2023-24. His first Vaqueros team went 16-14. This season, UTRGV finished 19-14 and third in the Southland Conference.



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